bernie sanders inauguration meme
Bernie Sanders is making money for charity thanks to his virtual inauguration meme.
Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images
  • The teacher who made Sander’s mittens, Jen Ellis, is partnering with Vermont Teddy Bear Company to mass produce the viral mittens.
  • A portion of the profit from the mitten sales will go to Make a Wish Vermont.
  • Merchandise from Sanders’ inauguration outfit has sold out across the board.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

The Vermont teacher known for giving Bernie Sander his inauguration mittens, Jen Ellis, announced Monday she is planning to create an entire mitten line through a partnership with Vermont Teddy Bear Company.

Jen Ellis has struggled to meet demand since her mittens helped spawn a meme that has taken over the internet. Last week, the now-iconic mittens worn by Sanders sold out.

Over the weekend, Ellis announced on Twitter that the mittens will be available to everyone, as the teddy-bear maker will help her mass produce the product.

Ellis originally made the mittens for Sanders as a gift. They were crafted by hand and made from recycled sweaters. 

 

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Ellis did not comment on when the mittens would be available for sale or share more details on their production, though the teddy-bear maker told ABC News they would be working closely with Ellis.

It will represent the company's first attempt at producing mittens. 

"Jen is going to work hand-in-hand - mitten-in-hand - with each one of our designers," the company's vice president of product innovation, Hayes McCarthy, told ABC News. "We're excited to be in the mittens category."

A portion of the profits from the mitten sales will be donated to Make a Wish Vermont. Vermont Teddy Bear Company has contributed to the foundation in the past. The company, which crafts handmade teddy bears, also has one of Sanders himself. 

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Products related to Sander's inauguration outfit and meme have spurred sales across the board.

Sanders' Burton jacket sold out days after the inauguration as social media channels were inundated with images of Sanders in the jacket.

Sanders himself has also turned the meme into an opportunity to benefit charity. He has raised $1.8 million for Vermont's Meals on Wheels by selling merchandise with the meme on it through his campaign store website. 

His first product, a $45 sweatshirt, sold out in under 30 minutes. Additional merchandise was added and sold out days later on the site.

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